The 5th annual Similkameen BBQ King event hosted by the Similkameen Wineries Association at the historic Grist Mill & Gardens in Keremeos was an excellent success on a hot and cloudless Similkameen evening. Chef Lee Humphries from Local Lounge • Grille in Summerland was crowned the 2014 Similkameen BBQ King after winning “Best Wine and Food Pairing” of the night with Cawston’s Seven Stones Winery. It was a double victory for Local Lounge • Grille and Seven Stones Winery as they received both the media’s choice award and the people’s choice award for “Best Wine and Food Pairing” of the night. Chef Natasha Schooten from the Grist Mill paired with Sage Bush Winery took second for the people's choice, while the runner up for the media’s choice award was Shayna Merritt and Josh Shulman from Shayna & Shulman Culinary Adventures paired with Orofino Winery.

The 9 chefs and paired wineries competed with black box ingredients including a 65 pound hog from Two Rivers Specialty Meats. 

We are sharing the rest of our story with you in pictures:

The black box ingredient list:

 

A 65 pound hog from Two Rivers Specialty Meats

 

Similkameen BBQ King is a rare kind of wine event that's kid friendly :)

 

Friends David Brooks of Top Cat Tours and Dean Douglas of Grape Escapes, here at The Grist Mill to make sure everyone has a safe ride home

 

 

Volunteers are fully in the spirit of the heritage site we occupied for the evening

 

The nose in the nose-to-tail dinner concept

 

Chef Natasha Schooten from host kitchen The Grist Mill and team paired with Sage Bush Winery took second place in the people's choice category

 

Tom Matthews of Summerland Waterfront Resort and Patricia Dunn of Dunn PR and friends in the bucolic landscape that is ours for the night

 

 

Ellen Matthews of Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association and Patricia Dunn kick back, shoes off!

 

The expanse of the property allowed visitors to wander off and enjoy a little journey back to simpler times

 

All the food and wine pairings were colourful and creative plays on the nose-to-tail, whole beast theme utilizing the black box ingredients

 

locals and visitors are all comfortable, for this eve, its all our own backyard :)

 

The foreshadowing of the win… Chef Lee Humphries of Local Lounge's pork cracklings finish his winning dish

 

the showstopping moment of taking in the sight, smell and knowing that this could be the winner - a cherry BBQ pulled pork taco with sorrel chimichurri, marinated shaved carrots, pickled zucchini, pork sausage, piggy puffs and cherry hot sauce. The pork was marinated overnight with Seven Stones Pinot Noir, which as pairing went down perfectly with Seven Stones Pinot Noir

 

Local Lounge and team with George Hanson, president of the Similkameen Wineries Association and Owner and Winemaker at Seven Stones Winery

 

Chef Jeff Van Geest from Miradoro Restaurant at Tinhorn Creek Winery and Chef Lee Humphries out back

 

Judgement awaits the competing pairs:

 

Lee Humphries from Local Lounge paired with Seven Stones

 

 

Kim Lawton, Similkameen Winery Association's Marketing Director gives the trophy to George Hanson of Seven Stones Winery

 

 

Owners of Local Lounge, Christa-Lee McWatters Bond and Cameron Bond happily surprised with the big win! 

 

A moment to rejoice for the winning team. A BBQ well done :)

 

For more information about the Similkameen Wineries Association, visit their member page on The Field Guide, and read the official press release too :)

We can't wait to see you there next year! 

Tarynn Liv Parker

Editor